FERRYMAN
Is in the same way
THE MOTHER
When love does speak.
CHORUS [Song]
O Bird of the Royal City, come!
For I ask, too, a boon of you.
In Azuma, the child I love
Is he, or is he not?
Ah! though I ask and ask, it answers not!
Vexing art thou! Bird of the Royal City—
A country bird wouldst thou be better called!
Yet this same bird comes singing to the banks
Of Horie River, where the boats race past.
That river is in Naniwa, and this
The Sumida, flows down through Azuma.
When one reflects on this, how vastly far
In my lone journey do I seem to come.
That being so—— Lo! Ferryman, I pray
The boat is full, but still is room for me,
So let me enter, Ferryman, I say,
So let me enter, and then push away.
FERRYMAN [Words]
Such a tender-hearted, mad thing as this woman never has been!
Come aboard at once, but notice that the ferry is a swift one.
Take good care to step in gently.
[To the Traveller] You, sir, too, I pray come on.
TRAVELLER [Words]
May I ask, what is that yonder where the people by the willow
Are assembled in great numbers? Why should they be waiting there?